Transportation and Communications Revolutions
Chapter 10 Section 2
By: Zack, Hannah, and Chris

Telegraph: A communications system that transmits and receives simple unmodulated electric impulses, especially one in which the transmission and reception stations are directly connected by wires.
Railroad: A road composed of parallel steel rails supported by ties and providing a track for locomotive-drawn trains or other wheeled vehicles
Erie Canal: An artificial waterway extending about 579 km (360 mi) across central New York from Albany to Buffalo which was constructed from 1817 to 1825

1. American Journalism was affected
A. Benefited greatly from the telegraph.
B. Gave newspapers the ability to transmit information faster
C. Invented the steam rotary press which made printing papers faster and cheaper
2. Impacts of the Erie Canal
A. Waterways were vital to transportation as steam boats replaced slow barges
B. Connected the East to the West while rivers only connected North to South
C. Made trade cheaper and more efficient than using roads
3. Effects of the Railroad on American life
A. Didn't need to rely on waterways for transportation
B. Increased growth in population because it developed along the routes of the roads
C. Cut the time of shipment which enabled them to trade produce and crops which would normally go bad
4. Morse Code revolutionizes communications in the U.S.
A. Allowed people to communicate large distances in a relatively short time
B. The first message sent a signal as far as 187 miles in just a few seconds
C. Railroads and power line were along side each other to allow for communication between stations to send warning messages in case of delays

The new inventions of this time period quickened the life of America and made it more efficient.


Transportation and Communications Revolutions
Chapter 10 Section 2

Key Terms
Canal- a large man -made river used to transportation and trading
Railroad- A method of transportation by carts on rails to transport goods and people
Steam Engine- Engine run by steam used for boats and trains to make them work properly
Telegraph- A communication device that uses electric pulses and morse code. It was invented by Samuel Morse and it also benefited journalism
3-5 Important Ideas
The canals made trading and transportation much easier and faster
The early railroads cut the time of shipment and travel and they were run by steam engines
The railroads weakened the connection between the Northwest and South
The telegraph made communication easier and created new forms of journalism
Summary/Main Idea Statement
The first half of the nineteeth century consisted of great changes behind the ideas of transportation and communication.

Alison Ryan
Nick Dalena

Transportation and Communications Revolutions
Chapter 10 Section 2

Key Terms
The Erie Canal: This was the first major canal to be built in America, going from Lake Erie to the Hudson River. It opened up trade routes by sea from Chicago to New York and inpired the construction of additional canals.
Railroads: These quickly overcame canals and became the primary method of transporting goods and people. They started popping up in the 1830s but exploded in size and length in the 1840s.
Telegraph: A communication device connected by electrical cables, it communicated with others using short bursts of electrical current in a language called Morse code. It was a faster method of communication and was able to span long distances, connecting most cities throughout the country.
Steam power/Steam engine: Steam power provided a more effective way of operating machinery than water power did and allowed factories to move off the rivers and farther into the country.
3-5 Important Ideas
  • Railroads became the primary source of transportation.
  • Steam began to replace water power as the primary source of energy and allowed for the expansion of industry all across the country, even to places without rivers.
  • Steam also provided a way for trains and barges to move faster through steam engines, making transportation of goods quicker and easier.
  • Communication improved greatly in the form of telegraphs and reporters, ushering in an age of more instant and widespread news.
Summary/Main Idea Statement

Micah Fiedler
Heather Stevens
Eric Meigs
During the mid-1800s, methods of communication, transportation, and industrial production greatly improved as a result of new technological advances; this ushered in a new age of science, trade, industry, and expansion for the United States.